Who Says I'm Not a Proper Adventurer?
Chapter 9: Basic Botany and Simple Potion Making

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Basic Botany and Simple Potion Making

The next morning. Last night’s card game had been called off, his mood soured by the events of the afternoon.

But Lance hadn’t neglected his goal of finding books to study.

Bright sunlight streamed through the bookstore’s windows, dust motes dancing in the golden shafts of light.

Gray Rock Town did not have a public library.

For ordinary people, the only way to acquire new Knowledge was to buy books from a bookstore.

In this world, Knowledge, much like life, was an expensive luxury.

The bookstore’s owner was an elderly gentleman.

A pair of delicate, gold-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, and he wore a well-made linen shirt.

Whenever Lance passed by, he could see the old man through the shop window, sitting behind a high counter with a steaming cup of coffee, quietly poring over a thick tome.

Pushing open the wooden door, which tinkled a small brass bell, Lance stepped into the spacious, two-story bookstore.

The collection here was quite extensive. From basic primers for learning to read to the latest journals on magical theory, nearly everything could be found somewhere on the towering mahogany shelves.

Lance’s gaze swept over the dazzling array of spines, and his attention was quickly drawn to a large, illustrated album displayed in a prominent spot.

Ostran Summer Edition

His eyes lit up, and on some strange impulse, he reached out and took it down.

Flipping open the cover, he was immediately met with an air of lavish, foreign charm.

The album’s inner pages were made of expensive glossy paper, illustrated with white clock towers that pierced the clouds and enormous ships that broke through the waves.

The remaining sixty-odd pages, however, detailed Ostrara’s pulse-pounding local color and customs.

A Foxman girl with a graceful figure glanced back from within a tavern, the fine fur on her ears clearly visible.

A noble, aloof Elf Ranger drew her longbow, her eyes sharp and piercing.

And there was a scantily clad Succubus with a heart-shaped tail, winking flirtatiously at the reader from the page.

This illustrated album was clearly the work of a Professional. The Painter had mixed a trace amount of Illusion Technique dust into the pigments.

As Lance stared at the pictures, the still figures created the illusion of slow movement; even the sway of the Foxman girl’s skirt seemed uncannily lifelike.

’This is really something...’

With the pure eye of an art connoisseur, Lance carefully savored every single page.

Then, he glanced at the steep price on the back cover and reluctantly placed it back on the shelf.

’His budget for the day was limited; he really didn’t have the spare cash for this kind of "food for the soul."’

’Next time for sure.’

Lance reined in his thoughts and began to weave through the bookshelves, searching for the real reason for his visit.

’He’d really missed out on a lot of treasures by not visiting this bookstore sooner.’

He even spotted a book titled Advanced Techniques for Three Dragon Card in a corner and almost gave in to the impulse to buy it.

Just as he rounded the corner of a tall bookcase filled with books on herbalism.

A petite figure, also holding books, happened to be coming from the opposite direction.

With their views obstructed, neither of them managed to stop in time.

BUMP.

It was a soft sound. The figure, who didn’t even reach Lance’s shoulder, swayed slightly.

"I’m so sorry."

The voice was soft and sweet, laced with the panic of someone who’d just been startled.

Lance looked down.

Standing before him was a young woman in a beige dress, with a dark brown apron embroidered with medicinal herbs worn over it. She had the quiet air of a scholar.

She was apologizing with her head bowed, her two signature braids resting on her chest.

"Flora?"

Lance called out tentatively.

Hearing the familiar voice, the girl raised her head in surprise.

When she saw it was Lance, a flicker of happy surprise flashed in her large, doe-like eyes.

"Lance? Are you here to buy books, too?"

"Yeah."

Lance smiled and nodded, then asked with some curiosity.

"Shouldn’t you be at Mowenna’s potion shop helping out right now?"

Flora smiled bashfully and held up the thick, hardcover book she was carrying, as if displaying a precious treasure.

The large, gold-foil letters on the cover gleamed in the sunlight.

A Veridia Publication: The Ideal Basic Potion Manual for Alchemists.

"Mowenna sent me to buy this book."

Flora’s voice held a barely concealed note of excitement.

"She said I’ve mastered the fundamentals and can start learning real Alchemy."

Lance felt a surge of respect upon hearing the name.

Veridia, meaning "Jade Crucible" in the common tongue, was considered a sacred place by all schools of the Life Alchemy tradition on the continent.

Essentially, all the latest Potion formulas and theories originated from there.

Being able to study a book like this meant Flora was no longer just a young apprentice who could only chop herbs.

"You’re finally starting to brew Potions?!"

Lance was genuinely happy for his friend.

"Congratulations, future Master Alchemist."

At Lance’s praise, a sweet smile bloomed on Flora’s face. The dimples on her cheeks appeared faintly, making her look especially adorable.

But she quickly collected herself and looked at Lance, puzzled.

"Oh, right, what book are you looking for? The sections here are a bit of a mess, but I know my way around. I can help you find it."

Lance didn’t stand on ceremony and told her what he needed.

Flora nodded, led him through two rows of bookshelves, and came to an area against the wall.

"They’re all here."

Following her finger, Lance immediately spotted the book he’d been searching for.

Copper Creek Herbal and Mineral Atlas.

And next to it, another thick, black-covered book piqued Lance’s interest even more.

Copper Creek Forest Monster Manual.

Lance reached out, pulled it from the shelf, and flipped it open.

He was stunned after just a few glances.

The contents of this book were far more detailed than the free, few-page introductory Manual handed out by the Adventurer’s Guild.

The pages not only contained detailed written descriptions but were also accompanied by sketches that, while crude, captured the subjects’ key features perfectly.

From the tell-tale signs of a camouflaged Goblin nest entrance to the distribution patterns of Slime cores.

From how to distinguish the Professional Tiers of Gnolls by their fur color, to the best evasive stance to take when encountering a Demonized Wild Boar.

Every detail was meticulously documented.

Just as Lance was debating whether to add this Monster Atlas to his must-buy list...

Flora, who was rummaging through the shelves nearby, suddenly let out a small gasp.

"Found it."

She stood on her tiptoes and pulled a book with a dark green cover from between two rows of heavy tomes.

Then she turned and thrust the book into Lance’s arms as if presenting a priceless treasure.

Lance looked down.

Basic Botany and Simple Potion Making.

"If you want to learn how to identify wild herbs, learning this on the side will be very helpful."